How This Flyin' Hawaiian is Learning, Living & Loving the Rural Life

Until Next Year, Summer…

If you’re new to Diary Of A Wannabe Farm Girl or it’s just your first time meeting me through my words on the interweb, welcome! And, if you’re a newbie, you probably don’t know that I’m from Hawaii. What does that have to do with this post, you ask? Well– everything! You see, I am always a Kona Girl first and an Oregon Girl second. It means that sometimes I get to go home to Hawaii or my sweet parents get to come up to the great Pacific Northwest to visit! And this post has to do with the latter.

You see, mom and dad are in town right now for their yearly visit and it has been such a blast having them for the past week. I’m already sad that their trip is half way over and we still have a week more with them! Whenever they come, I love that they want to explore, get out and do things and have a good time.

This past weekend, we ventured out of the valley over to Sun River. All of us, the WHOLE family– Jace and I, mom and dad, sis and my brother in law and my handsome little nephews. We spent the past several days there and let me tell you– I needed it! I didn’t realize it, but I really did! Completely (sort of) unplugging from all responsibilities and electronics and getting to be with family, no plans in place– just wherever time and our hearts took us provided for some spontaneous times. It was so relaxing and went by way too fast. But, as always, time flies when you’re having fun, right?!

We started our weekend by mom treating sis and I to manis and pedis. I may be a “wannabe farm girl,” but I LOVE a good pampering! Any trip that starts with a girls day like that is welcome in my book! After that, we headed over the mountain, conquered the grocery store together to shop for our weekend and settled into our cozy little abode for the next few days with tasty burgers and movies. The next day we went on a three mile walk through Sun River, checked out the Village and later that evening played some put-put golf and bumper cars. The golfing was a little chincy, but Toby LOVED it! He was one happy boy! We also ventured to La Pine State Park and stumbled across a super serene area on the river. We laughed and caught up and just enjoyed each others company as we talked about crashing a wedding that was going on in the park— of course we were only kidding and didn’t really do that!

The next day sis and my brother in law celebrated their anniversary, so we had the boys. We took Jace’s advice to go for a drive and ended up in good ole’ Fort Rock. Have you been to Fort Rock? It’s a teeny tiny town south east of Bend. It felt like it was in the middle of nowhere– and it was! Desert scenery with sage brush stretched for miles as ground squirrels hurried across the road. I had not idea what to expect, but when we got there it was such a neat area– so remote, so quiet and so simple. The town was small and the ONE person we encountered was welcoming. We stumbled upon the Fort Rock Homestead Museum. My goodness– it was cool! It made me appreciate all that we have today. All the luxuries of heat (and AC!), a comfy bed, a regular flushing toilet and a washing machine that doesn’t require me to do more then add the clothes and soap. The boys were so well behaved as we weaved our way through each building. We were literally the last customers before they closed up the museum for the fall and winter seasons. How’s that for good timing?! Watching Toby’s eyes look like they were going to pop out of his head when we explained to him how things were back in the “old days” was pretty comical. I’m not sure he understood completely, but nonetheless, the teacher in me came out to teach him. Once a teacher, always a teacher, right?!

Before we knew it, our trip was coming to an end. I surely wasn’t ready to head back over the mountain and jump back into reality. But, nonetheless, we had to. Back to the smokey air we came and back to work I went today. I wish I could freeze the next week and this past weekend. Saying goodbye to mom and dad after their trips are always hard but I seem to make it through the “see you next year” each time. I am already looking forward to their next trip and our next adventure! We’ll see where it will take us!

Besides that, one of my fondest memories of this past trip is little Parker, my youngest nephew and watching his fun little personality come to life. That little boy has latched onto me like a little ‘opihi! Look up what an ‘opihi is if you don’t know! I must admit, it was hilarious every time he would yell, “Auunnttyyyy Niiikkkiiii” or every time he asked for more blueberries– that boy can eat! I like to think I am one of his best friends and I’ll hang on to those “Aunty Nikki” cries forever. So sweet and so innocent. My nephews truly making being an Aunty so fun and I had a blast spending the whole weekend with them too!

I hope you all have gotten to spend time with the ones you love too, made unforgettable memories and lived in the moment as this summer comes to an end. I am so grateful to have gotten more fun in during these last few bits of summer. I know I’ve said it before, but oh my goodness, this has been the best summer in a long time!